Leonard Ward
1893-1920
1893-1920
Leonard Arthur Ward had at least one ride on the Flat in 1910, but had to wait until 1920 before recording the first of his three wins under National Hunt rules.
Leonard Arthur Ward had at least one ride on the Flat in 1910, but had to wait until 1920 before recording the first of his three wins under National Hunt rules.
Born in 1893, he was apprenticed to Herbert Braime, who trained at Marlborough. Leonard’s first ride was Walley, owned and trained by Braime, who finished down the field in the Apprentices’ Plate at Lingfield Park on May 23, 1910. He kept the ride on the three-year-old but five subsequent starts were equally unsuccessful.
Born in 1893, he was apprenticed to Herbert Braime, who trained at Marlborough. Leonard’s first ride was Walley, owned and trained by Braime, who finished down the field in the Apprentices’ Plate at Lingfield Park on May 23, 1910. He kept the ride on the three-year-old but five subsequent starts were equally unsuccessful.
Leonard was one of those small group of jockeys who had their first rides over jumps in 1916, when Hesperus Magnus failed to complete the course in the Stewards’ Handicap Chase at Gatwick on January 21.
Leonard was one of those small group of jockeys who had their first rides over jumps in 1916, when Hesperus Magnus failed to complete the course in the Stewards’ Handicap Chase at Gatwick on January 21.
He did not ride in either 1918 or 1919 but returned the following year to claim his first victory at Folkestone on January 19, 1920, when the six-year-old Saintly Maude narrowly got the better of Eston Jetty, ridden by Fred Fitton, to win the Waldershare Moderate Hurdle by a short head.
He did not ride in either 1918 or 1919 but returned the following year to claim his first victory at Folkestone on January 19, 1920, when the six-year-old Saintly Maude narrowly got the better of Eston Jetty, ridden by Fred Fitton, to win the Waldershare Moderate Hurdle by a short head.
Three subsequent starts after their Folkestone success brought just one fourth place finish, and they even lost that when Leonard failed to weigh in, meaning his mount was disqualified.
Three subsequent starts after their Folkestone success brought just one fourth place finish, and they even lost that when Leonard failed to weigh in, meaning his mount was disqualified.
However, at Plumpton on January 28 he registered his second victory when Croix de Guerre was a comfortable winner of the Hopeful Hurdle, beating Interrogation, also ridden by Fred Fitton, by ten lengths.
However, at Plumpton on January 28 he registered his second victory when Croix de Guerre was a comfortable winner of the Hopeful Hurdle, beating Interrogation, also ridden by Fred Fitton, by ten lengths.
His third and final win was at Leicester on March 9, when steering Count Sligo to a three-length success in the Syston Selling Hurdle. He had one further, unplaced, start on the five-year-old, at Lingfield Park six days before taking what would prove a fatal fall.
His third and final win was at Leicester on March 9, when steering Count Sligo to a three-length success in the Syston Selling Hurdle. He had one further, unplaced, start on the five-year-old, at Lingfield Park six days before taking what would prove a fatal fall.
Aged 26, Leonard rode a ten-year-old gelding named Neville Holt in the Selling Handicap Hurdle at Hawthorn Hill on Tuesday, March 23, 1920. Neville Holt fell at a hurdle. Both Leonard and the horse were killed.
Aged 26, Leonard rode a ten-year-old gelding named Neville Holt in the Selling Handicap Hurdle at Hawthorn Hill on Tuesday, March 23, 1920. Neville Holt fell at a hurdle. Both Leonard and the horse were killed.
